MV Sawasdee Fasai Overview

Boat rating : 9/10 Based on12 divers

Read all MV Sawasdee Fasai reviews

Type: Liveaboard

Departs from: Khao Lak.

No. of guests: 30

Prices from:
28,700 THB per diver

One of the best Similan liveaboard boats has just had a full refit and been given a new name. This 37m. steel-hull luxury dive boat is now under new management and her name is MV Sawasdee Fasai. This Similan Islands liveaboard was relaunched at Christmas 2016, and has already become as popular as its sister ship, MV Pawara. Most of Sawasdee Fasai’s cabins have private en suite bathrooms, and all air conditioned.

MV Sawasdee Fasai is now owned and run by the same team as MV Pawara. That means each trip is extremely well managed by professionals who know how to take the best care of guests of all ages & diving experience levels. Rental equipment is top quality but available at the lowest rates, and the food is simply delicious. Sawasdee Fasai has joined the fleet because Pawara has simply become so successful & popular, and trips are sold out sometimes a year in advance. Similan Islands diving guests normally want the best safety and comfort that their budgets allow, and Sawasdee Fasai meets the same high standards that Pawara guests have been enjoying for several years. Completely refitting the decks to provided large & luxurious cabins and communal areas that give guests plenty of space to move around or relax in comfort. Sawasdee Fasai has the perfect staff & crew to provide the best food, service, safety & professionalism for diving Similan Islands cruises.

There are four types of cabins on Sawasdee Fasai. The upper deck has two master cabins that have double beds and large sea-view windows, plus there are five twin-bunk deluxe cabins. These also have sea-view windows, and wide single bunk beds. On the lower deck there are four standard cabins that can be configured as twin beds or a large double. All Master, Deluxe, & Standard cabins on Sawasdee Fasai have a private en suite bathroom, a mini safe, and plenty of cupboards and shelves for storing each guest's personal belongings & luggage. Finally, the boat has twin-bed budget cabins that are perfect for divers who want the best value but still enjoy the best diving & the luxury of a larger Similan liveaboard boat. The budget cabins share two large bathrooms on the same deck, that are only used by guests in these cabins, and of course have hot & cold freshwater showers, western toilets and hand basins.

Sawasdee Fasai has lots of space for guests to socialise or relax. There’s a large sundeck on the roof, plus another at the front of the boat. Both of which have all-weather sofas. In addition, there's a large air-conditioned lounge saloon and a dining area at the rear of the main deck. It’s very easy for guests to find somewhere to sit together or to find peace & privacy alone. Finally, the dive deck of Sawasdee Fasai is simply huge. This is perfect for storing everyone’s equipment and enabling guests to gear up and step into the crystal-clear seas around the best dive sites in Thailand. While a large dive deck doesn’t look luxurious, it is vital to the overall enjoyment of guests on a Similan liveaboard cruise. The team of local crew are very service minded and a lot of fun. They help divers into and out of the water. Naturally, Sawasdee Fasai has a motorised tender dinghy for beach visits and to retrieve divers who surface away from the main boat.

The trips depart in the evening and you start diving the following morning at an easy Similan Islands dive site. During the trip the boat moves north to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock. There are up to 14 dives and at least one beach visit. Some websites show the trips to be 5D/4N, but this is incorrect & misleading. With an evening departure and mid-afternoon return four days later, the trips are 4D/4N. Don't trust websites that try to mislead you to appear better value.

They kitchen staff and crew, plus the international dive staff are always on hand to offer help & service, and understand the needs of guests who are on a diving cruise in Thailand. The food is cooked fresh for every meal and served buffet style. It’s a mixture of local and western cuisine, always with a vegetarian option. Tea, proper coffee, drinking water, fruit and snacks are available throughout the day, and local beer, wine, ice cream & soft drinks are available at extremely reasonable rates.

Dive groups are organised so that everyone dives with others of a similar level, experience, needs & air consumption. Of course, this is flexible if couples, friends or family want to stay together. The timing of divers entering the water is very well organised, to ensure that everyone gets their turn at going in first, and the surface or dive site isn't crowded unnecessarily.

With all these winderful things, plus Early-Bird discounts for bookings made before the end of August, it's easy to see why so many Sawasdee Fasai trips are full a long time before departure.

MV Sawasdee Fasai Courses

A wide range of PADI courses are available on MV Sawasdee Fasai. PADI AOW (Advanced Open Water) and Nitrox Enriched Air are the most popular, mainly because diving at The Similan Islands is perfect for Advanced diving courses, and Nitrox fills are available for free on Sawasdee Fasai. Please let us know in advance which courses you are interested in so that we can prepare materials in your language, staff and equipment. It is sometimes possible to decide at the last minute or after boarding, but always best to book first.

Courses

Courses

Prices

Scuba review

1,500 THB

Specialty Dives, such as Adventure, Night, Deep

1,500 THB

/dive

Advanced Open Water (for part-course referrals, please contact us)

6,000 THB

Nitrox (EAN)

Including: free Nitrox fills for the remainder of the cruise.

6,000 THB

Open Water Diver* (classroom, confined water + 4 dives on Pawara)

(4 Dives)

9,000 THB

Itinerary

MV Sawasdee Fasai Itinerary

There are up to four dives per day on Sawasdee Fasai, and two on the final day of the cruise, but none in the evening of departure day. While some others may advertise these trips as 5D4N, we prefer to show them as 4D4N. Although each diving cruise spans 5 calendar dates, there are only four days of diving and the whole trip is less than 96 hours long.

Guests are collected from Phuket & Khao Lak during the late afternoon and evening of the first day, and board around 7.30pm for boat, cabin & crew introductions, welcome dinner and drinks as the boat sails into the night.

The diving starts early the next morning at an easy dive site in the central Similan Islands. Here, the tour leader and dive instructors can identify the level, experience and needs of each guest and sometimes perform a ‘scuba review’ for those who haven’t dived in more than a year.

Click on the link below for a detailed itinerary for Sawasdee Fasai.

The itineraries below are the most-common for each trip, but these can sometimes be changed for a number of reasons. Small changes are made due to weather & sea conditions, special marine life sightings, overcrowded dive sites, local-authorities' instructions, and the needs & requests of the paying guests. The safety & comfort of all guests is most important at all times.

Click on an itinerary below for detailed information

MV Sawasdee Fasai ITINERARY

Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock

4 Days / 4 Nights (14 dives)

Time

Activity

Location

Departure Day

16:30 - 19:30

Free scheduled pick up from Phuket & Khao Lak hotels & Phuket airport at set times

20:00:00

Arrival on board MV Sawasdee Fasai

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

20:00:00 - 21:00:00

Equipment check & boat briefing

21:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 1

07:00:00

Briefing

07:30:00

Dive 1

Similan Islands

09:00:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 2

Similan Islands

12:30:00

Lunch

14:30:00

Dive 3

Similan Islands

16:00:00

Beach visit

Donald Duck Bay, Island 8, Similan Islands

18:00:00

Dive 4 night dive)

Similan Islands

19:30:00

Dinner on board

Day 2

07:00:00

Briefing

07:30:00

Dive 1

Similan Islands

09:00:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 2

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:30:00

Dive 3

Koh Bon

17:00:00

Dive 4 (sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

19:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 3

07:00:00

Briefing

07:30:00

Dive 1

Richelieu Rock

09:00:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 2

Richelieu Rock

12:30:00

Lunch

14:30:00

Dive 3

Richelieu Rock

17:00:00

Dive 4 (sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

19:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 4

07:00:00

Briefing

07:30:00

Dive 1

Koh Bon or Boonsung Wreck, depending on conditions

09:00:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 2

Koh Bon or Boonsung Wreck, depending on conditions

12:30:00

Lunch

13:30:00 - 14:30:00

Disembark

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

14:00:00 - 18:00:00

Free scheduled transfers to Khao Lak and Phuket hotels

Khao Lak & Phuket

Transfers

MV Sawasdee Fasai Transfer Details

MV Sawasdee Fasai guests can enjoy free scheduled transfers on departure day and after the cruise.

The pickup time depends on the location of the guests’ hotels, but generally start late afternoon in southern Phuket and early evening from Phuket Airport and Khao Lak to meet the boat for an evening departure from Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak.

On disembarkation day, Sawasdee Fasai guests arrive at Tab Lamu Pier in Khao Lak mid-afternoon on the final day of the trip and are transferred to local hotels & resorts, or even Phuket Airport. The arrival time depends on the distance from the pier and the weather and sea conditions which determine docking time.

The team like to know as soon as possible where guests want to be dropped after wafterwards, so that arrangements can be made before the boat sails out of the mobile phone signal. It's also important to avoid guests having to hang around at the pier waiting for their transfer.

MV Sawasdee Fasai Scheduled Transfers

4D / 4N Trips

17:00 - 18:30

Pick up from Phuket :
Free

19:00 - 19:30

Pick up from Khao Lak :
Free

20:00 - 20:30

Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

14:00 - 15:00

Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

15:00 - 16:00

Drop off to Khao Lak :
Free

15:00 - 17:00

Drop off to Phuket :
Free

For customers who would like a private taxi please see below for details.

(Click below for a rough guide to the rates you can expect to pay ‘per vehicle,’ not ‘per person’.)

We don’t ask for any payment or your card details until you are ready to confirm your booking.

For safety reasons, it’s impossibleto complete a booking instantly online, as some other websites claim to offer. We always check first as each boat has a different criteria regarding diver details & experience.

We offer each boat’s booking & payment policy (below). Some other websites have standardised terms, asking for full payment but many boats’ payment terms are a 20-30% deposit, and the balance paid on arrival.

Our Thailand-based staff are experts about logistics, the dive sites & all the boats. Take a look at the reviews on our site & tripadvisor.

Our team are always online to answer your questions. We always respond the same day, usually within a few minutes

Customer service is everything!

For example, if a trip is cancelled, we will ensure you can choose between an alternative similar trip or a full & unconditional refund.

MV Sawasdee Fasai: Booking Procedure / Terms & Conditions:

The booking process for MV Sawasdee Fasai is very simple & convenient. Firstly, ask us to reserve a space in the cabin of your on the date/trip that you would like to join. We are happy to do this for free, and without any commitment from you. When you are ready to confirm, we ask for 50% of the cruise price as a deposit. This payment is most-commonly made via PayPal, with no added fees to the customer. You don't even need a Paypal account, although PayPal do encourage you to open one. The PayPal invoice can be sent to any email address and payment can be made by anyone.The 50% balance is due 30 days before departure. Again, this payment can be made via PayPal. Balance payments attract a small bank fee of 2.5%. However, if guests choose to pay the full cruise price at the time of booking, or make a Thai bank direct transfer, there are no fees.Trips which qualify for Early Bird discounts normally need to be paid in full upon booking, but can be discussed case-by-case.

Extras, such as national marine park fees and maybe equipment hire or other items, are paid in cash on board.Cancellation policy:Cancellation fees depend on the time and reason for cancelling. Please contact us for details. The management of Sawasdee Fasai are both considerate & flexible whenever possible regarding customer cancellations.Most travel insurance policies can protect you from unforeseen cancellation penalties.

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Genuine MV Sawasdee Fasai Reviews

Read real reviews from people who have dived with MV Sawasdee Fasai

Keith A. Raymond

Divers Nationality: American

Dive date: 11 November 2018

Boat rating: 8/10

Great boat, Great crew, Great dive sites. Boon Song Wreck is a bit of a let down after Richelieu Rock. See separate email. "Sorry it took a bit to get back to you, had to get my land legs on. The wide beam of the boat, widest of any I saw, made th
e ride stable and pleasant. I found myself floating between the Russians, Koreans, Chinese and Spanish teams, and hopefully acted as a unifying spirit. Each group had their quirks, and I was able to practice several languages although my Cantonese and Mandarin is nonexistent. Two best sites was Koh Tachai (what only one dive?) and of course, Richelieu Rock where everything was represented. I could spend a week there alone! We didn't see Mantas nor Whale shark to the disappointment of the group, but been there done that, so the rest was the best. Even composed an article for a dive magazine: Making Each Dive Better than the Last. If I finish it today, I'll send it on. The Chinese were kind enough to give me 2.3 GB of GoPro videos, and the Spanish promised to send me their photos once they've been photo shopped. Gun and Beto were princes! They are the kind that not just make but inspire liveaboard diving. Qualities you can't teach, like compassion, concern, curiosity, and a willingness to tell the same story a gazillion times and still make it sound fresh. Kwan is a little long winded in the briefings, but due to insurance issues it is understandable. What was really unique was the hot rose scented wash cloth given at the end of the last dive. True luxury, and refreshing even after 30C water. I probably wouldn't do the budget option again, as climbing up on the top bunk was a bit tough, and the mattress was a bit too hard for my old bones, as I'd wake up with sore hips that needed a dive or two of hyperbaric therapy to alleviate. The crew and the food was good, and truly joyful although I felt bad for their sleeping accommodations stuffed into every nook and cranny of the boat. Food highlights included Lamm Gai and the daily cooked banana/chocolate/ginger breads. I would have preferred dinner served at the snack time, and the snack served at the dinner time as it was quite late for me. Most folks had a beer and a lighter meal at dinner anyway. I guess it's personal preference. I suppose enough for now. Thanks for all your work, and getting that T shirt to me."...read more

Neill

Divers Nationality: British

Dive date: 21 April 2018

Boat rating: 8/10

Awesome boat and staff. Great food. Great cabins.

James Firmage

Divers Nationality: American

Dive date: 21 April 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

The boat is clean and comfortable, the crew attentive and knowledgeable and the diving excellent:

Ofra

Divers Nationality: Israeli

Dive date: 11 April 2018

Boat rating: 10/10

Fantastic experiment, great staff with a professional attitude and the guest as a first priority. Great dive sights.

Gadi

Divers Nationality: Israeli

Dive date: 11 April 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

very proffesional team. ship in good shape. aircon bunks. pleanty of food thai style. diving equipment in good shape. similan sites amazing. pray for whale shark! ship team so nice and pro. diving team fantastic.

Shimshon

Divers Nationality: Israeli

Dive date: 11 April 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

Excellent, if you are a diver do not miss this !

Christine

Divers Nationality: Canadian

Dive date: 18 March 2018

Boat rating: 10/10

Amazing diving trip with breathtaking dive sites which are the nicest I've ever seen! Great staff which made the trip extra special! Made me tasty vegetarian food. Want to do the trip again!

Dan

Divers Nationality: British

Dive date: 21 November 2017

Boat rating: 10/10

The 4 day trip on the boat was fantastic. Wonderful diving with huge amounts of marine life, great dive masters, wonderful food and a super friendly crew.

Carin & Karin

Divers Nationality: Swiss

Dive date: 21 November 2017

Boat rating: 10/10

We received excellent pre service support from Jamie at Similan Divers. The dive boat was very comfortable and we loved the deluxe cabins with ensuite bathrooms. The crew and food were outstanding. The dive masters led by the formidable Kwan were fan
astic too. We were so touched by the care she had to make sure everyone had an excellent trip and how hard they all worked. The free Nitrox, video and electronic log book with all the fish we encountered on each dive was a nice add on. We had some items of rental gear we requested and unfortunately not all made it from West Coast Divers to the dive boat. But they were able to cobble together what we needed....read more